MQA GAINING TRACTION WITH LG PHONES AND SONY HI-RES PORTABLES
The emerging MQA music format has divided consumers, industry commentators and music industry execs since its release.
While many claimed it was just another cash grab for labels and the MQA licensing itself, most remain on the fence about the actual benefits and audible difference.
Ultimately the market will decide when it comes to new formats, much the same as it did when Beta and VHS went head-to-head.
MQA appeared to be making ground striking deals with both Sony and Warner Music Group late last year, but perhaps the biggest show of strength for the MQA format came earlier this year when Tidal adopted a growing MQA library via its streaming platform, named Tidal Masters.
Announced this week in Berlin at the IFA event, LG unveiled its latest V30 smartphone. The LG V series is a premium flagship smartphone line designed to provide users with the highest multi-media capabilities and purest audio experience, and is the first global MQA-enabled mobile.
Mike Jbara, MQA’s CEO said:
This is a great partnership with LG because MQA’s technology – delivering quality audio in a convenient file size – truly comes into its own on the mobile device. The V30 handset raises the bar in terms of offering an all-round premium user experience.
Further cementing MQA’s likely success is a simultaneous announcement coming out of Berlin that MQA technology has also been integrated into two of Sony’s new Walkman products, the WM-ZX300 and WM-A40 models.
Jbara continued:
Music lovers have a huge affinity for the Sony Walkman brand and we’re delighted that by integrating MQA into the latest portable Walkman devices, we can further expand opportunities to listen to master quality audio.
According to MQA, Korean-based hi-res streaming service, Groovers, has confirmed it is working on MQA mobile and desktop implementation for its platform, due to launch by the end of 2017. This follows recent news from b2b digital music solutions provider, 7digital, that it will be powering a forthcoming hi-res streaming service, HDmusicStream, using MQA technology to deliver studio quality audio.
MQA music is now available in a number of download stores worldwide, including e-onkyo music, HIGHERESAUDIO and 2L along with live performances in the MQA format from Nugs.net.
The future may just look bright for MQA afterall.
For more information visit mqa.co.uk
Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
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